HS2 blights home sales in Twyford

HOUSE sales in Twyford have been especially blighted by the government’s HS2 high-speed rail plans, according to a local estate agent.

This is despite mitigation measures announced in January, which moved the planned route for the line so it will now be about 150m from the closest home, rather than the 70m originally planned.

Managing partner of Buckingham estate agency Lords, Stephen Morris, who has 34 years’ experience in estate agency, said: “The village of Twyford has been especially affected and although enquiries are starting strong, as soon as people find out the village is affected by the HS2 proposed line, their interest wanes.

“This can be confirmed by the exceptionally buoyant sales that have been experienced in Buckingham and the surrounding villages that are not affected.”

Manager of Hamptons International in Buckingham, Ben Walpole, said properties in Whitfield, Turweston and Marsh Gibbon are also affected.

He said: “One particular property, as soon as we mention HS2, they then say they don’t want to view it. The fear of the unknown is worse than the certainty.

“You don’t necessarily have to see the train to be affected by noise pollution, air pollution and vibration.”

This comes as a government report on HS2 found that the “successful delivery of the project is in doubt” and highlighted “major risks or issues” with the plans. It concluded the rail line scheme had a red-amber risk of going wrong

Foreign Office minister David Lidington, who is MP for Aylesbury, has called for the report to be made public.